His Majesty visits The Garrison Chapel for exhibition of watercolours by Queen Marie of Romania
His Majesty The King, Royal Founding President of The King’s Foundation, visited the Garrison Chapel – the charity’s exhibition space in London – to see a new exhibition, ‘Marie of Romania, Artist Queen’. The Garrison Chapel regularly hosts exhibitions of work created by students and graduates of The King’s Foundation, as well as exhibitions and events of wider cultural interest.
The Romanian Cultural Institute in London is hosting this major exhibition of watercolours by Queen Marie of Romania, many of which have never been seen in public before. British-born Queen Marie (1875-1938) was an artist, writer and stateswoman. The watercolours form part of two manuscripts held by the Romanian Academy, depicting native flowers of Romania.
Lithographs of Marie’s watercolours are displayed alongside The Transylvania Florilegium collection of exquisite botanical art. The Florilegium was commissioned by His Majesty The King as Prince of Wales and created by a team of international botanical artists between 2012-2016. The exhibition offers a vivid dialogue between the two collections, celebrating Romania’s natural environment and biodiversity.
“Our exhibition space at The Garrison Chapel hosts a range of diverse exhibitions and we are delighted to be paying homage to The King’s affection for Romania and its natural landscape in this showcase of Queen Marie’s watercolours.
Kristina Murrin CBE, Chief Executive of The King’s Foundation
“As a charity, we work internationally – including in Romania – to help work towards His Majesty’s vision of people, places and planet living in harmony with nature. It is therefore fitting to have this particular exhibition at our London exhibition space, for the public to enjoy.”
The King’s Foundation undertakes a range of projects in Romania, reflecting His Majesty’s longstanding affection for the country and deep interest in its landscape, biodiversity and cultural heritage. One such project supported by The King’s Foundation is Ambulance for Monuments, launched in 2016 to rescue hundreds of heritage-listed buildings in Romania.
These emergency interventions are carried out by experts, students and trained craftsmen on a voluntary basis with the support of local communities and authorities. At the heart of the project in each region is an intervention kit and a lorry equipped with tools, construction equipment and materials – the Ambulance for Monuments. The project was nominated in 2024 for The King’s Foundation’s International Impact Award at the charity’s annual awards ceremony.
In addition, The King’s Foundation has delivered a series of architecture and craft summer schools across the country in collaboration with the Order of Romanian architects, as well as supporting the development of an interactive map of craftspeople in association with Associatia Monumentum.
‘Marie of Romania, Artist Queen’ has been curated by art historian Dr. Shona Kallestrup of St Andrews University and historian and collector Sorin Mărgărit. The exhibition is free and open between 19th September and 12th October from 11am-6pm Monday to Friday, and from 11am to 4pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
“We are so happy to have created this exhibition that celebrates Queen Marie of Romania on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of her birth.
Aura Woodward, Director of the Romanian Cultural Institute in London
“We are thrilled because this exhibition presents for the first time some of her watercolours, which were stored until now in the archives of the Romanian Academy, and they are presented here for the first time ever in London.”